The U.S. now has 1,277 confirmed cases of measles across 38 states and the District of Columbia. This is the highest number of reported infections since 1992, according to a report from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation. An area in West Texas has 750 cases with the epicenter of the outbreak in Gaines County. The rate of infection there has slowed, but is spreading to other states. Many experts believe that the actual number of cases is significantly higher since many people do not report their condition.
Measles is highly contagious, but totally preventable. It was officially eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to high vaccination rates and rapid outbreak response. It has been considered a public health success story. But now at least 155 people have been hospitalized in the U.S. and there are 3 known deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also stated that 92% of the cases were among people who had not been vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
